Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-29
lHR GRAND Army.
oESEnAL ELI LONG EULooIzGD.
A Soldiers Tribute 20 a Gallant
Cavalry Leader.

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Having noticed many stories about
cavalry leaders, l fail to find one name
that think should stand at the head,
the coolest and most deliberate man and
soldier that It was my lot to meet dur.
ing the entire war. Perhaps you ask,
who do refer tot Gen. Eli Long was
no newspaper soldier, but TO him prop
erly belongs the main credit OF the
grand massed cavalry charge made on
the rebel lines when they had US entire.
ly surrounded at Bovejoy Station, Ga,
August 20, 1864, and for which the gal.
liant Fitzpatrick received so much praise.
Long deserves great share of It, Us
personally know that he sent back his
orderly, Prince, to have the led horses
headed in solid mass toward the Latonia
road and this without orders from any
one. The bulk of the command that
day was not Kilpatrlck's, but Eli Longs
Second Division; only two regiments of
Gen. Kilpatrick's own division, the
Third, being along with the expedition.
These regiments were the 9th and 10th
Ohio Cavalry, which were equipped,
each alternste man, with either pick or
crowbar to tear up the railroad. Kill
patrick only commanded his own divi>
sion during this expedition. That
Fitzpatrick was q soldier every inch of
him, know, and it troubles me hard to
give him too much credit: hut "KilL"
as the boys familiarly lied him, was
considerably excited on the goth of Au-
gust, 1854, as there was It u hole left
large enough for rabbit TO get through,
while three different rebel commanders
were sending flags of truce at the same
time, demanding the honor Of receiving
our surrender.
Well, theygot 1t right and left over
their heads with sabers (as was always
the case with Fitzpatrick and Long.
riding out in front, which they Away
did), and that night the boys got the
finest nights sleep in four days, in
drenching rain. | will state here that
the mounted infantry brigade; known as
the Wilder Brigade, and commanded.
since Chicamauga, by Col. Miller, was
not along ON this trip, and many of the
boys of that command grumbled like bla.
zes at not being along, for better metal
was never formed into brigade than
Nilder's men.
Some Of the old vets may inquire who
Gen. Eli Long 10, not having seen his
name mentioned in thu many big stories
written.
Eli Long was Captain of Co. K, 4th
Q. 8. Cavalry, (the old lst Cav.) at Stone
river, where he gathered up
portion Of our stampeded cavalry,
and led them back in the charge, the
result of which turned the fortune of
the day between the two contending
armies. He was shortly afterward Geo
ruary %, 1882 promoted to Colonel of
the 4th Ohio Cavalry, Col. John Ken
nett having resigned on account of i'll
health. When this splendid soldier
Eli Long-took command of the regi-
ment some of the field officers forwlth
resigned, thinking themselves slighted
by having o Captain promoted over
them. Among these were Majs. @. g.
Mcclure and John l.. Pugh; but the
soldiers of the old 4th Ohio soon learned
that their (the Major loss was an actu-
al gain to the regiment.
In the early summer of 1868 Col.
Long was put in command of the Sec.
ond Brigade, Second Division of the
Calvary Corps. Gen. ]. B. Turchin
then commanded the division, but
was shortly after relieved by General
George Crook, since known as the great
Indian fighter. Crook was soon sent to
West Virginia, and General Kenner Gar
rard succeeded to the command of the
old Second Division, but in front of
Atlanta about August, 1864, Eli Long
took command Of the division, when he
was promoted to Brigadier General, and
commanded the same to the close oil the
war. Gen. Long was badly wounded
at Stone river, and was wounded again
at Loyejoy Station after the charge had
been successful, and we were only ward.
ing of the Johnnies who we're trying to
pursue us. Finally, at Selma, Alabama,
where he charged with the old Second
Division over what the rebels had
thought impregnable works, this cool
and daring leader, who never was known
to be excited during the entire war, re-
ceived several wounds which laid him
up and made him paralytic for life.
We took him along from Selma to
Macon in largessized carriage, not
knowing but that each day would be
his last on earth.
While the gallant Eli Long was thus
being conveyed along so dangerously
wounded. news was brought him when
we were about four miles from Macon
to the effect that "a flag of truce is at
the head of the column, General. stating
that an armistice exists between Gen.
Sherman and Gen. Johnston, and the
message is sent by Gen. Howell Cobb.n
Gen Long reused up in wrath and
said: ,"Tell the commanding officer at
the head of the column to give the officers
with the flag of truce FIVE minutes to get
out of the way. TLis command don't
receive messages from Howell Cobb"
The column at once moved forward
in gallop, and entering Macon surS
rounded the Arsenal, although Col.
Minty was in active command Of the
division after Gen. Long was so badly
wounded.
No commanding geners. officer was
more beloved by his men than Eli Long
not even dear old Pap" Thomas, and
/ hope some fluent writer will take up
the subject and give his name the prom
inence an justice his name and soldier
ly services deserve.
Let some writer, too, say something
for the rank and file also; whose gener.
aiship at times, on small sea 9, might
have been equal to large commands with
proper opportunity. w. Dickman,
IL INT i p